Basketball Ireland
Basketball Ireland was founded as the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland in 1947, and after playing a County and Club Championship format for nearly 30 years switched to a National Basketball League based on clubs in 1973. This became professionalised with the import of American players during the 1979-80 season and the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. The IBA became Basketball Ireland in 2003 and organises National Leagues, Cups and Tournaments as well as entering International competitions.
National Basketball Leagues
This is the Eirball Index Page to the All-Time Results and Standings of the Basketball Ireland National Leagues. First founded in 1973-74 after 27 years of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Club and County Championshps, the National Basketball Leagues have two tiers in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball.
Header Picture Credit: [1] Folan, John | Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s And 90s Facebook Group (2020) Post to Page, January 27, 2020″Fantastic team loved going to see them play” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84031072_1023908997993251_8391839803976450048_n.jpg?nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=eZjapq8zlu4AX9QUva&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=03447b305a695c8d4a572078f382a059&oe=5E9F44CB [Accessed 25 March 2020][Adjusted]
IBA / BINL Men’s Super League 1993-Present
In 1991 the Association merged the Men’s Divisions 1 & 2 into one National Basketball League, with two conferences: North & South. At the same time it reduced the number of paid American Imports from two to one, thinking the Irish playerscould make the step up. The fans lost interest, however, with just one American on the teams, and it is regarded as the end of the “Golden Era”. After two seasons under this format, the two division set-up was reinstated, with Divisions 1 & 2 now named the Super League & Division 1.
The Irish Basketball Association was rebranded in 2003 as Basketball Ireland, and the two Conference (North & South) model was again reintroduced, although the two Division (2 levels) set-up was retained. The Women’s 2nd Level was reinstated at this time also, although the Women’s Divisions never had North & South Conferences.
In 2013 the Super League underwent a name-change to the Premier League, as a drastic attempt was made to fix the National Leagues and the massive debt Basketball Ireland had built up. In 2016 the Super League brand made a comeback and by 2019 it was stated on the Basketball Ireland website that the €1.4 Million debt was paid off.
NBL Men’s Super League
Picture Credit: Ross Mahon / Shutterstock (2021) TALLAGHT, IRELAND – MARCH 01, 2021: An aerial view of the National Basketball Arena in Tymon Park. [Accessed 4 May 2021]
Basketball National League Men’s Super League Overviews 1993-2023:
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2016-2019
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Premier League 2013-2016
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2003-2013
Irish Basketball Association Men’s Super League 1993-2003
BI NL Men’s Super League 2016-2023:
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2020-21
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2019-20
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2018-19
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2017-18
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Super League 2016-17
BI NL Men’s Premier League 2013-2016:
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Premier League 2015-16
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Premier League 2014-15
BI NL Men’s Super League 2003-2013
IBA NL Men’s Super League 1993-2003
IBA National League Men’s Super League 1997-98
IBA National League Men’s Super League 1996-97
IBA National League Men’s Super League 1995-96
ABAI / IBBA National Basketball League Division 1 1975-1993
The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was formed in 1947. After 25 years of All-Ireland Championships based on a Club & County basis like in the GAA, the ABAI created the first National Basketball League based on clubs in 1972-73.
In 1979-80 St. Vincent’s Killarney brought in two paid American Imports, contrary to the rules of the ABAI, but after taking no action against them for most of the season, they relented having seen how many fans it was bringing in, and allowed paid imports, changing the name of the Association to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. This era, from 1980-1991 is regarded by many in Irish Basketball as its “Golden Era”
NBL Men’s Division 1 1975-1993
Picture Credit: Ross Mahon / Shutterstock (2021) TALLAGHT, IRELAND – MARCH 01, 2021: An aerial view of the National Basketball Arena in Tymon Park. [Accessed 4 May 2021]
Men’s National Basketball League Division 1 Overviews 1975-1993
Irish Basketball Association Budweiser Men’s National League 1991-1993
Irish Basketball Association National Basketball League Men’s Division 1 1979-1991
Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland National League Division 1 1975-1979
IBA Men’s Budweiser NBL
IBA Men’s Budweiser National Basketball League 1992-93
IBA Men’s Budweiser National Basketball League 1991-92
IBA NBL Men’s Division 1 1979-1991
IBA National Basketball League Men’s Division 1 1990-91
ABAI NBL Men’s League
IBA / BINL Women’s Super League 1997-Present
IBA / BINL Women’s Super League 1997-Present
Image Reference: 3D Rendering of creative basketball with glowing blue neon seams on a midnight blue background casting a glow on the surface below with copy space Image ID: 134359100 [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_134359100_3d-rendering-of-creative-basketball-with-glowing-blue-neon-seams-on-a-midnight-blue-background-casti.html?vti=m97hw7szwu5g9ln1c4-1-8 [Accessed 9 March 2022]
National Basketball League Women’s Level 1 Standings
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Super League 2016-2019
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Premier League 2013-2016
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Super League 2003-2013
Irish Basketball Association Women’s Super League 1997-2003
BBI NL Women’s Super League 2016-present:
BINL Women’s Super League 2020-21
BINL Women’s Super League 2019-20
BINL Women’s Super League 2018-19
BINL Women’s Super League 2017-18
BINL Women’s Super League 2016-17
BBI NL Women’s Premier League 2013-2016
BINL Women’s Premier League 2015-16
BBI NL Women’s Super League 2003-2013
IBA NL Women’s Super League 1997-2003
IBBA National League Ladies / Women’s Division 1 1979-1997
IBBA NBL Women’s / Ladies Division 1 1979-1997
Image Reference: 3D Rendering of creative basketball with glowing blue neon seams on a midnight blue background casting a glow on the surface below with copy space Image ID: 134359100 [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_134359100_3d-rendering-of-creative-basketball-with-glowing-blue-neon-seams-on-a-midnight-blue-background-casti.html?vti=m97hw7szwu5g9ln1c4-1-8 [Accessed 9 March 2022
IBBA NBL Women’s / Ladies Division 1 1979-1997 Overviews
Irish Basketball Association Women’s National League Division 1 1991-1997
Irish Basketball Association Ladies National Basketball League 1979-1991
IBA NBL Women’s Division 1 1991-1997 (Seasons):
IBA National Basketball League Citrus Spring Division 1 1991-92
IBA NBL Ladies Division 1 1979-1991 (Seasons):
Irish Basketball Association / Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1
In 1993 the Men’s Budweiser League was again split between two levels, with the highest level being named the Super League and the second level Division 1.
NBL Men’s Division 1
Image Reference: Black basketball with red stripes Image ID: 182623842 [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_182623842_black-basketball-with-red-stripes.html?vti=mwnr1r7det0sknethy-4-43 [Accessed 9 March 2022]
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2013-2019
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2003-2013
Irish Basketball Association National Basketball League Men’s Division 1 1993-2003
BBI NL Men’s Division 1 2013-2020
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2020-21
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2019-20
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2018-19
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2017-18
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2016-17
Basketball Ireland National League Men’s Division 1 2015-16
BBI NL Men’s Division 1 2003-2013
IBA NBL Men’s Division 1 1993-2003
Irish Basketball Association Men’s Division 2
The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland created a second level for Men’s Basketball in 1977-78, known as Division 2, which remained Division 2 after the re-branding of the organisation in 1979-80. For the 1991-92 season, both Divisions were merged into one Budweiser-sponsored League with North and South Conferences and American-style playoffs.
NBL Men’s Division 2
Image Reference: Black basketball with red stripes Image ID: 182623842 [Internet] Available from: https://www.123rf.com/photo_182623842_black-basketball-with-red-stripes.html?vti=mwnr1r7det0sknethy-4-43 [Accessed 9 March 2022]
National Basketball League Men’s Level 2 Standings
Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland National League Division 2 1977-1979
Irish Basketball Association National Basketball League Men’s Division 2 1979-1991
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1
NBL Women’s Division 1
For woman basketball on white background Computer generated image
BINL Women’s Division 1 Overviews 2003-Present
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2013-2019
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2003-2013
BBI NL Women’s Division 1 2013-2020
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2020-21
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2019-20
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2018-19
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2017-18
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2016-17
Basketball Ireland National League Women’s Division 1 2015-16
BBI NL Women’s Divvision 1 2003-2013
Irish Basketball Association Ladies / Women’s Division 2
NBL Women’s Division 1
For woman basketball on white background Computer generated image
IBA NBL Women’s / Ladies Division 2 1982-1997 Overviews
Irish Basketball Association National League Women’s Division 2 1991-1997
Irish Basketball Association National Basketball League Ladies Division 2 1982-1991
IBA NBL Women’s Division 2 1991-1997 (Seasons):
IBA National Basketball League Women’s Division 2 1991-92
IBBA NBL Ladies Division 2 1979-1991 (Seasons):